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OCEANSIDE  It’s common to see members of the military sporting camouflage fatigues in San Diego County.

But watching them lead a horse around with a veteran riding astride triggers a worthy double take. Last month marked one year since Ivey Ranch Park Association in Oceanside instituted its Horses for Heroes program.

The free, six-week therapeutic horsemanship course involves active-duty troops and able-bodied veterans who volunteer to help their injured comrades.

“We are excited about this program because we can give back to the people who have served our country in a meaningful way,” said Tonya Danielly, executive director at Ivey Ranch Park Association. “It’s our way of saying thank you.”

A one-hour session has two parts: horseback riding and Equine Assisted Growth and Learning.

When the riding segment is complete, participants use the other half-hour for equine groundwork exercises, such as grooming or walking the animal around with a lead rope.

Each task is different, but the goal is the same: to encourage and empower veterans with teamwork, problem-solving techniques and leadership skills.

Horse-centered therapy helps people rise above psychological and physical challenges. At Ivey Ranch, veterans have the opportunity to work with a psychologist, marriage and family therapist and an occupational therapist.

An activity, such as buckling a halter around a horse’s head, can reveal an individual’s stress or ability to cope.

“The horse is the mirror for those emotions,” Danielly said. “We offer life skills that support the emotional well-being for veterans while helping them reintegrate.”

Veterans vary in age. Some fought in the Vietnam War; others faced battles in Afghanistan and Iraq. Several veterans, Danielly said, have endured burns, amputations, paralysis and arthritis from war wounds as well as post-traumatic stress disorder.

Despite the obstacles, veterans soon learn the horses are nonjudgmental.

To date, 12 veterans from the Marines, Coast Guard, National Guard and Navy have participated in Horses for Heroes. Ivey Ranch Park Association, a 28-year-old nonprofit, offers recreational programs such as able-bodied riding and therapy riding for youths and adults, summer camps, community garden, equine-assisted psychotherapy and Horses for Heroes.

For the first time, Ivey Ranch is welcoming nine active Camp Pendleton Marines into the Horses for Heroes session in mid-May.

All are in treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. Ivey Ranch is working with Wounded Warrior Battalion West and the Traumatic Brain Injury Center to help active-duty personnel.

Danielly has witnessed positive transformations — one of which is a higher degree of mobility and movement.

“For instance, we have one lady veteran who plays the cello, and she told me that if it hadn’t been for riding, she would not be able to position her legs in the stance to accommodate her instrument,” she said. “We have another veteran who is not as dependent with his cane.”

Horses have a similar gait to humans. On horseback, a person’s muscle strength, balance, flexibility and coordination can improve.